Need some joy in your life? 8 hilarious, heartfelt books to make reading fun

Clare Mulroy, USA TODAYSat, April 11, 2026 at 1:01 PM UTC

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Doomscrolling getting you down? Tired of distressing headlines? Want to disappear into a different world for a bit?

Reading is the cure to many emotional ailments, especially when what you need is a bit of levity. I often gravitate toward emotionally weighty reads. I love a heart-wrenching family drama. But when life gets hard, sometimes all you want is a good laugh.

I recently had this experience with two books. One of my first reads of 2026 was “Lost Lambs” by Madeline Cash, an absurdist satire that is so clever, I recommend it to practically everyone. Then I read “American Fantasy” by Emma Straub, which made my heart soar. It’s warm and fun and brimming with joy, soothing the inner fangirl along the way.

In my interview with Straub, she put into words what I was feeling – after she wrote a novel that made her cry every day, she just wanted to have fun: “In this world that we all live in together right now, we are all sorely missing joy."

Joyful books to stock your shelves with this spring

In search of replicating that, I polled my USA TODAY colleagues: What is the funniest book you ever read? Or one that felt like a delight to read? Between old books and new releases, here’s where we landed:

‘American Fantasy’ by Emma Straub

"American Fantasy" by Emma Straub

In the latest release from the “This Time Tomorrow” author, 50-year-old Annie embarks on a boy band nostalgia cruise alone after her sister backs out. Newly divorced and an empty nester, it’s in the company of feverish fangirls that she can awaken a long-buried part of herself and find an unexpected friend.

‘Lost Lambs’ by Madeline Cash

"Lost Lambs" by Madeline Cash

I – and several friends – have burst into spontaneous, doubled-over laughing fits in public while reading “Lost Lambs.” This clever novel follows the madcap Flynn family: Parents Catherine and Bud are opening their marriage (reluctantly); eldest Abigail is dating an older man dubbed “War Crime Wes”; middle child Louise is building a bomb in the backyard treehouse with the help of an online friend; and youngest Harper, too smart for her own good, is sniffing out a hunch about the town’s billionaire resident.

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‘Margo’s Got Money Troubles’ by Rufi Thorpe

"Margo's Got Money Troubles" by Rufi Thorpe.

Thorpe’s 2024 novel debuts as an Apple TV series next week starring Elle Fanning, Michelle Pfeiffer, Nick Offerman and Nicole Kidman. This quirky and hilarious story follows the college-aged daughter of a Hooters waitress and former pro wrestler who gets pregnant by her English professor. After the baby is born and her estranged father shows up at her doorstep, she turns to OnlyFans to keep her money problems at bay.

‘Nothing to See Here’ by Kevin Wilson

"Nothing to See Here" by Kevin Wilson

What do you do when the kids you’re supposed to be watching start spontaneously combusting when angry? This is the hilarious premise of “Nothing to See Here,” which follows Lillian, a woman reuniting with her former best friend Madison, who needs help caring for her unique twin stepkids Bessie and Roland.

‘The Hike’ by Drew Magary

"The Hike" by Drew Magary

For fans of “Dungeon Crawler Carl” and other LitRPG books, “The Hike” follows a suburban family man on a business trip to rural Pennsylvania. His harmless pre-dinner walk turns into something far whackier, sending him on a quest in a world full of giant demons and insects, magical tools and a profane crustacean.

‘Stop Me If You’ve Heard This One’ by Kristen Arnett

"Stop Me If You've Heard This One" by Kristen Arnett

Big-hearted and knock-your-socks-off funny, “Stop Me If You’ve Heard This One” follows Cherry Hendricks, a professional clown and part-time aquarium store employee who is down on her luck. She’s constantly hooking up with the wrong person’s mom, her own is judgmental and Cherry's grief over her deceased brother is always popping up when she least expects it. Then, she meets Margot the Magnificent, a much older magician whose success and charm pull Cherry in swiftly.

‘Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers’ by Jesse Q. Sutanto

"Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers" by Jesse Q. Sutanto

This one is for the cozy mystery fans. Lonely tea shop owner Vera Wong goes from meddling mother to bona fide detective when she finds a dead man in the middle of her tea shop with a flash drive in his hand. Surely she can do a better job solving this mystery than the cops? “Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers” is a sweet whodunnit, more whimsical than creepy.

‘Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?’ by Mindy Kaling

"Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns)" by Mindy Kaling

An oldie but a goodie, this 2011 memoir from comedian and actress Kaling still makes our staffers laugh. Written as her career soared during the “Office” and “Mindy Project” days, Kaling rounds out her book of essays and stories with observations on romance, friendship and Hollywood.

Clare Mulroy is USA TODAY’s Books Reporter, where she covers buzzy releases, chats with authors and dives into the culture of reading. Find her on Instagram, subscribe to our weekly Books newsletter or tell her what you’re reading at cmulroy@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: We all need a laugh. Read one of these joyful books next.

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